The Tallest Trees

The tallest tree in the world (except for 1 or 2), many 300 ft +, and oldest among redwoods, grow along Avenue of the Giants by 101 hwy, N. California, and in surrounding  National Parks. Some very old redwood (sequoias) trees were still cut in 1996 (when the campaign to save them got attention) and sometimes after that.   The tallest single tree on earth is located in Montgomery Woods State Reserve, about 12 miles from Ukiah (2 hrs north of San Francisco), it’s 367 ˝ tall but only 10. 4 in perimeter, 600-800 years old. This redwood tree (on the picture, a man is looking at it) is 5 stories taller than Statue of Liberty. But, for the tree protection and in fear of more tourist in this nice, peaceful area, rangers and locals WILL NOT say which one is this tree. Even the signs put there after the tree was measured in ‘96 were torn down. No one there will point you to that tree called “Mendoncino Tree”, not many will show you how to get to Montgomery Woods Reserve. Sighs pointing to that Park also disappear. I saw only one (small) Parks’ sign and it was from the opposite site I was coming from (Ukiah). The narrow road (Orr Springs Road) of hairpin turns which goes from Ukiah to M.W.S.R. isn’t pleasant for cars and impossible to access for tour busses. It’s a small road, no lights, easy to miss from the main street. With no signs on the way, you will pass residential areas, interesting looking small trees, Hot Spring (recreational) Resort, then you will find unpaved, small parking lot with possibly no sign of the Park from your site. Then you’ll walk up on steep ground, pass the main sign there, go under fallen tree, over the bridge, walk little bit more and you will see it. 25 trees at the M.W.S.R. top out above 350 feet. BELOW ARE THE PICTURES FROM THAT MONTGOMERY WOODS STATE RESERVE:     * * * * * * * The second oldest Redwood tree, also un marked ,  grows in Humboldt Redwood State Park.

The Oldest Trees

The same “hiding” situation as with "Mendoncono Tree" is with “Methuselah”-the oldest (4 500 years +) tree (but comparably short) on earth, located somewhere in white mountains area in Sierra Nevada complex, California, just east of Nevada border, in the group of Bristlecone Pines. This unmarked, not very green tree, grows at 10.000-11.000 elevation near the routs of former oldest one that was cut down in mid 70-tees in White-Inyo mountain range.